Game apparatus including selectively contourable playing surface



United States Patent O1 lice 3,534,961 Patented Oct. 20, 1970 3,534,961 GAME APPARATUS INCLUDING SELECTIVELY CONTOURABLE PLAYING SURFACE William A. Tiley, 190 Misty Wood Lane, Fair-field, Conn. 06430 Filed Oct. 31, 1968, Ser. No. 772,196 Int. Cl. A63f 7/ 06; A63b 67/02, 67/04 U.S. Cl. 273-87 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In game apparatus where playing elements, e.g. balls, are to be propelled along a course, as in small-scale simulation of golf, a playing surface structure consists of sheet fabric portions edgewise joined to provide an enclosure With a filling of movable, particulate, light weight solid on which the upper fabric portion rests, whereby the upper fabric, having a playing course marked on its outer surface, can be manipulated and the local bulk of the filling material correspondingly adjusted, to provide any desired topographical contour of the playing surface, such surface having suitably located cup recesses into which balls are played. With different courses marked on the fabric sheets, the structure is reversible for play on each side.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to games involving playing elements to be moved on a surface, and particularly to games which can be conveniently defined as portable from the standpoint of size whether or not a particular embodiment is in fact carried from place to place, and which involve a marked playing surface, notably for example, a surface depicting a golf course and preferably including recessed structures to constitute cups, over which miniature balls are to be propelled in simulation of golf play.

Heretofore games of this sort have usually involved rigid playing boards, sometimes merely flat, or alterna tively contoured to simulate grades, slopes, valleys, elevated areas and the like as occur on natural golf courses, but the interest of games of this sort, which involve propelling miniature balls around such boards with small hand-manipulated clubs, is relatively limited and is seriously lacking in variety and in any possibility of posing new problems of play. Another proposal has been to provide a sheet or board of metal or other stiff, slightly flexible material with underlying mechanical elements to provide some selectable upward bending at certain localities, for a certain degree of variation in contour of the playing surface; such structure has been indicated for use where the entire playing surface accommodates a single hole of a golf course or the like.

In contrast to the limited interest or utility of prior devices, an important aim of the present invention is to provide a novel structure of playing surface in smallscale games of the character described, permitting a large variation or selectability of playing conditions and affording much closer simulation of the underlying type of game, e.g. golf, and continuing novelty and challenge to the players over many repititions of use. Further objects are: to attain these results with relatively simple, durable means, yet capable of pleasing and attractive design; also to afford, in preferred circumstances, the alternative use of at least two differently marked courses for play; and to provide new and convenient game apparatus of this class, including appurtenances thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To the above and other ends, the invention involves, in or for a game that requires a playing element to be propelled along a course, a playing surface structure comprising two coextensive sheet portions joined at their edges to provide a flatwise-extending enclosure. At least the upper one of the sheet portions is made of cloth or other fabric or the like, i.e. having limp flexibility, and is marked with a playing course on its outer surface, as for example an appropriately artistic design of tee areas, fairways, hazards, greens, vegetation and other landscape features to constitute a series of playing holes of a golf course. The interior of the enclosure between the sheet portions has a filling of divided, solid material, very advantageously of light weight, being particles or grains or pieces which in bulk have approprate mobility of the general nature of sand or other more or less flowable, particulate solid. Thus the upper sheet portion of fabric and the local bulk regions of the filling upon which it in effect rests are manipulable to provide a selected nonplanar contour for the depicted playing course; the structure may be generally described as of the nature of a somewhat flat sand bag, the fabric surface being in effect moldable into a very large variety of surface shapes, of corresponding topographical simulation, that will remain at rest in their selected condition.

The fabric playing surface, for golf or the like, may have a felt-like, flocked or like face and may include miniature recess elements mounted in it, e.g. providing cups in the marked greens, which can each removably receive a miniature pin, i.e. a designating flag on a staff. With the surface adjusted to a desired hilly, rolling or other contour, the game can be played exactly as golf, e.g. by striking a miniature ball with a suitably headed club; the surface contour remains at rest in its selected condition, unaffected by normal play, for as long as desired.

A special feature of the invention resides in constituting the structure as a large, rather flat, bag-like assembly of two coextensive fabric portions joined at their peripheries and enclosing the particulate filling. Each portion is marked with a playing course on its outer face, and may have cup recess elements mounted therein, so that the resulting assembly can be used for play with either side up, affording full advantage of adjustable contour in each position. In such fashion, for example, a full eighteenhole course can be provided, nine holes on each side, in a device of convenient size for indoor or like use, whether on table or floor.

By reason of the changeable course topography, interest in play is enromously enhanced, the simulation of reality is improved, and continuing, new elements of problem and challenge are brought to the game.

Further features of invention and of special advantage, including improvement in playing elements, are described below in connection with a presently preferred embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective view of the playing surface structure of the illustrated example of the game;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the article of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the article, showing in simplified manner a 9-hole course desgin;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the reverse side, to show a further course marked thereon;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section on line 5--5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary, vertical section through a cup structure in the article of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 illustrates a ball and club useful in the game; and

FIG. 8 illustrates, partly in section, a novel structure of the club element as used for withdrawing a ball from a cup.

3 DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of playing structure comprises rectangular, upper and lower sheet portions 10, 12, to constitute a laterally-extending bag-like enclosure, the portions 10, 12 being joined at their edges as by in-turned or other appropriate seams, an advantageous construction being to utilize a single, double-size piece of sheet material folded over on itself to constitute one edge, with suitable connection at the remaining three sides. Conveniently along one side, eg an end edge as shown in FIG. 2, the connection may include a closable opening along the edge, as indicated by the slide fastener 14, providing access for insertion and replacement of filling material. The fabric sheet of parts and 12 may be felt, woven fabric, flexible plastic sheet or indeed any fabric having limp flexibility, appropriate for the upper sheet 10 to rest in close, essentially motionless confromity with the underlying filling 16, while the lower sheet 12 rests on a table, floor or like supporting surface (not shown). Effective results have been had with felt sheet, but advantage is also attributed to woven textile, of substantial weight and corresponding durability.

The outer face of each sheet 10, 12, is marked with a course appropriate for the game, as by imprinting by silk screen process or otherwise, or by stencil, spray or other painting, or the like. A convenient treatment for at least much of the course area is the application of flocking in appropriate colors, a minute nap or pile (as at 18 in FIG. 6) being sometimes desirable for playing surfaces, such as provided by felt fabric, or applied flock, the nature of the surface being chosen in all cases to suit such characteristics of play as may be desired. FIG. 3 shows, for example, one course of 9 holes for golf, on the sheet 10, with marked tee areas 20, fairways 22, greens 24, hazards 26, and other features, imprinted in suitable colors and surface properties, usually with more realistic detail than given in this view. FIG. 4 indicates the use of the reverse sheet 12 for a like, further course. While the provision of a complete golf course is a feature of special interest, other course layouts (as with any number of playing units from one upwards) may be employed to suit the desired game.

The described enclosure, between the sheets 10, 12, contains a filling 16 of particulate material to effectuate the manipulable contouring of the upper surface, Whether the latter is the sheet 10 as shown or the sheet 12 when the game is to be played on the other side. Although the divided material may be solid or like relatively heavy, flowable particles (and indeed such can be used or substituted where the structure does not need to be picked up frequently or carried about), notable advantage, affording a special feature of invention, is achieved with particles of light weight, foam plastic material, as for example polystyrene foam, or other plastic or resin, preferably of the sort that has rigid cell walls rather than elastic walls. Essentially the filling is of mobile, light, particulate nature, adapted in buk to remain in an adjusted position of repose. Although other foam or cellular materials can be used, preferably such as are sufficiently low in electrostatic effects as to be reasonably flowable, notably useful results have been had with very light cellular foam (such as of a type used in blocks for supporting displays) understood to be of styrene polymer, crushed into small pieces (e.g. of the order of inch) and having open cells of fine, uniform, sponge-like distribution.

The filling of light, particulate material in the casing 10-12 should not be so tight as to resemble a cushion, and thus prevent the desired manipulation of contour, yet should preferably be suflicient to provide a firm support for the upper surface in essentially all desired adjustments of topography, i.e. so that the sheet material rests conformably and closely in place. The actual optimum amount can be readily determined by simple test; for example for an article having side dimensions of 4 feet by 3 feet, satisfac- 4 tory results have been had with 2500 to 3000 cubic inches of the above, crushed solid foam, measured in bulk.

For play of golf, the playing surfaces 10', 12 are equipped with miniature cups 30, suitably located in the depicted greens 24, for the usual function of playing a ball into them. Although other forms of recessed structure can be used, the preferred cup device 30* shown (FIGS. 6 and 8), which may be a single piece of molded plastic, comprises a hollow cylindrical body 32, providing a like ball-receiving recess 34, and having an upper annular flange 36 which is cemented to the underside of the fabric sheet, e.g. sheet 10, around a circular opening 38 that conforms to the recess 34'. The body 32 may have a relatively thick bottom portion 38 having a small cylindrical socket 40 to seat a slender stick or pin 42, i.e. a removable, numbered flag device simulating such structures commonly marking the holes of a golf course. The filling of divided material in the playing structure coacts with the cup devices 30, in that there is advantageously a sufficient body of such material to embed and underlie the devices 30 in the upper sheet and to overlie those (temporarily unused) in the lowest sheet, whereby the desired contouring of the upper surface is unimpaired by contact of any cup device with the inner surface of the sheet portion opposite to that in which the device is mounted.

Suitable balls and clubs are provided, such as the miniature ball 43 (FIGS. 7 and 8), for example a steel ball of ball bearing type suitably painted or coated if desired, and a club 44 having a playing head 46, flat-sided on both faces, and a shaft 48 of convenient length (say, 6 inches) and substantial thickness, to provide a good, firm, hand grasp for play. Although other metals, or plastic, can be used, effective results have been had with the clubs shown, made of aluminum. A feature of special importance resides in a small permanent magnet 50 embedded or otherwise mounted at the top end of the club shaft 48 (FIG. 8), whereby a ball 43 (of ferrous metal) is readily removed from a cup 30 by simply bringing the club end to or into the cup recess 34, i.e. so that the ball is attracted by the magnet. This instant recovery of the small balls is made possible, such recovery being otherwise very difficult by manual effort alone.

As will now be appreciated, the described game apparatus affords unusually attractive and interesting attributes for play, for example of a game simulating golf or the like. The bag-like playing surface structure, having a suitable filling of the mobile, light, divided solid, and appropriately dimensioned (3 feet by 4 feet has been found suitable for good contouring variation as well as ample to provide a course, although other sizes can be used), is placed on a table or on the floor, and a desired topography or contour is given to the upper, exposed surface by simple manual pressure or molding at various areas. Interest is promoted by ingenuity in locating regions of hill, plateau, slope, valley or the like relative to the marked places of fairway, green, rough or other hazard. Once set, the surface contour can remain indefinitely While the structure remains unmoved; the operation of play by striking the balls with the clubs involves relatively little pressure on the fabric, i.e. insufficient to disturb the mass of solid particles as confined by the conforming seating of the relatively limp fabric (10 or 12) thereon. Hence the entire selected course may be played by a number of players, or even re-played if desired. The device can be turned over, and the operation, including a design of topography, repeated for the course on the rear side. New contours can be designed at will, so that essentially new challenges and problems are created, stimulating new interest, indeed affording great variety, for example for play of the ball from each tee, along the fairways and in the putting operation on the greens, in the manner of golf. The entire structure is reasonably light in weight and can be conveniently stored or carried, as in a suitable rectangular, corrugatedboard case or box of conforming dimensions.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific constructions herein shown and described but may be embodied in other forms without departure from its spirit.

I claim:

1. In a game requiring a playing course on a surface, a playing surface structure comprising two coextensive sheet portions joined at their edges to provide a flatwiseextending enclosure, at least an upper one of said sheet portions having limp flexibility and having a playing course marked on its outer surface, and a filling of movable, divided solid material in said enclosure upon which said upper sheet portion rests so that said upper portion and the filling thereunder are manipulable to provide a selectable non-planar contour for the playing course constituted by said outer surface.

2. A game as defined in claim 1 in which said divided solid material comprises particles of light plastic material.

3. A game as defined in claim 2 in which said light plastic material is of open, substantially uniform, cellular structure.

4. A game as defined in claim 1, which is designed for use of playing elements propelled along the marked course, and which comprises structure providing at least one element-receiving recess in the upper sheet portion.

5. A game as defined in claim 4, in which said lastmentioned structure comprises a cup-shaped device having at the top of the cup a mounting flange secured to the underside of the upper sheet portion around an opening that registers with the cup.

6. A game as defined in claim 1 in which said sheet portions are of limply flexible fabric such that the lower portion may rest on a supporting surface while the upper portion is manipulable in contour as aforesaid.

7. A game as defined in. claim 6 in which different play ing courses are marked respectively on the outer surfaces of the sheet portions so that the playing surface structure may be supported selectively with each of the sheet portions uppermost and the uppermost portion in each condition of support is manipulable to provide a desired nonplanar contour.

8. A game as defined in claim 7, which is designed for 4 use of miniature balls propelled along the course of each fabric sheet portion when the latter is disposed uppermost, and which includes a plurality of ball-receiving cup structures recessed in each sheet portion.

9. A game as defined in claim 8 in which the cup structures include narrow socket recesses at the bottom of each, to receive the stalf of a marker flag.

10. A game as defined in claim 8 in which the divided solid consists of pieces of light, open-cellular, plastic material.

11. A game as defined in claim 8 in which the enclosure constituted by the sheet portions has an opening along one edge and a separable fastening for said opening.

12. In a portable game requiring a miniature ball to be propelled along a course, a playing surface structure comprising two coextensive sheet portions of fabric joined at their edges to provide a flatwise extending enclosure, said portions having respectively different playing courses marked on their outer surfaces so that game play is afforded when the structure is disposed with either side uppermost, ball-receiving recess structures disposed in both said portions in playing location'of the respective courses, and a filling of movable, divided, light-weight plastic material in said enclosure upon which each of said sheet portions rests when it is uppermost so that such appermost portion and the filling thereunder are manipulable to provide a selectable contour for the upwardly exposed playing course and the said recess structures therein.

13. A game as defined in claim 12 designed to simulate the game of golf, in which said playing courses are marked to constitute tee areas, fairways and greens, said recessed structures constituting cups in the greens, and which includes in combination playing elements comprising miniature balls and proportionally dimensioned clubs to be employed for propelling a ball.

14. A game as defined in claim 13 in which the balls are constituted of ferrous metal and in which each club has a shaft portion and includes a permanent magnet at the upper end of the shaft portion, so that a ball may be magnetically withdrawn from a cup by directing said end of a club to the cup.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1918 Harris.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1893 Great Britain.

U.S. CL. X.R. 

